Posted: September 2, 2010 2:26:07 PM PDT
On September 1, 2010 the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force (DTF) assisted U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the surveillance and arrest of six individuals for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (Opium Poppies).
The DTF was contacted by HSI on the afternoon of September 1, 2010 with a request for assistance in the surveillance of a group of indivduals that were known to smuggle opium poppies from the United States to Canada. During several hours of surveillance the group was seen going into a Bellingham business and coming out with empty hockey bags. The group ended up at the Dollar Plus store at 4151 Meridian Street in Bellingham. A short time after arriving at the store DTF and HSI agents observed the group loading hockey bags full of opium poppies (street name Doda, it is dried opium poppies crushed to make a tea) into two vehicles at the rear of the store. At this point the agents converged on the store and arrested six individuals. A search warrant was obtained for the Dollar Plus store and evidence suggests that the store was not only being used as a smuggling point for poppies into Canada but that they were selling Doda, from underneath the counter, to customers at the store.
Seized: approximately 200 pounds of Doda, four vehicles, $1,640 in cash.
Arrested and booked for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (Opium Poppies):
Balraj Singh, 2/27/88 3230 Orleans Street #B304, Bellingham, WA
Pritpal Singh, 11/22/86 3230 Orleans Street #B304, Bellingham, WA
Khoa Nhut Mach, 1/4/90 15963 88 Ave. Surrey, BC
Brian Tran, 7/23/90 9085 142 A Street Surrey, BC
Zaman Ali Pasha, 7/20/90 14302 90A Ave. Surrey, BC
Saajid Ali, 11/16/91 12303 93A Ave. Surrey, BC
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Media Contact: Lt. Rick Sucee, Northwest Regional Drug Task Force Commander
(360) 815-1696
